Golf tee



May 30, 1939. J. P. B UNDY Q 2,160,122

GOLF TEE Filed March 1, 1939 c/GWZQS P ,Beza g y Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a golf tee and aims to provide a device which will be simple, satisfactory for use by golfers and cheap to manufacture.

The present tee in general use comprises a pin type of support which is adapted to be forced into the ground. This type of tee is unsatisfactory in many instances where the ground is either very hard or very soft. In those cases where the ground is very hard, it is customary for the player to hammer the tee into the ground with frequently disastrous results to the tee. With extremely soft ground, the tee goes down too far.

In addition the vast majority of these tees do not have any stops for maintaining constant the depth of penetration of the tee support into the ground to provide a standard or uniform heighth of suport above the ground for the ball. It is obvious that for best results the ball should be supported at a uniform level or heighth above the ground in all cases so that a player may rely upon this in getting ready to hit the ball.

By my invention I provide a tee which will maintain the ball at a uniform heighth above the ground and which is in no way dependent upon the penetration of the ground by any portion of the tee.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the improved tee with a ball disposed upon it;

Fig. 2 shows the tee been hit;

Fig. 3 is a top view looking down upon the tee in supporting position but with the ball removed; and

Fig. 4 is a modified form of tee.

The tee comprises a center portion I0 having a plurality of prongs or arms here shown as three at H, I2 and I3 extending outwardly and uniformly spaced about the center and suitably shaped to provide support for a golf ball l5. The portion It extends downwardly to form a pair of legs l6 and Il which flare outwardly as seen in Fig. 3 and also are bent asshown in Fig. 1 to provide a knee I8 in advance of the vertical center line of ball l5. Preferably arms ll, l2 and I3 are uniformly spaced with an angle of 120 between adjacent arms and arm I3 is so disposed as to extend directly in line with the direction that ball I5 is to take. Legs l6 and I1 are sym- 50 metrically disposed with respect to arm l3.

To complete the support of the golf tee, a third 80 just after the ball has stub 213 is provided upon which is pivoted a long, curved rear leg 2| by any suitable means such as a pivot pin 22. Stub 20 is so shaped with reference to leg 2! so that it will engage a slotted portion 23 in leg 2! to act as a limit in the positioning of leg 2!. Normally leg 2| is disposed in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and points to the rear of the line of travel of the ball l5.

When ball I 5 is hit by a club, golf tee ill will be pushed over as shown in Fig. 2 so that it initially falls upon front arm I3. By suitably shaping arms ll, l2 and I3 it is'possible to prevent any reaction of the golf tee on the ball when the tee is turned over.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that a modified rear leg 2| is provided which is straight in comparison to the rather elongated curved leg 25 shown in Fig. 1. In many instances the form shown in Fig. 4 may be desirable and may yield satisfactory results.

It is understood, of course, that the tee may be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal or any molded product.

What is claimed is:

l. A golf tee comprising a ball supporting portion and a tripod for supporting said ball supporting portion, said tripod comprising two fixed legs and a pivoted adjustable leg.

2. A golf tee comprising a ball supporting portion and a tripod for supporting said ball supporting portion, said tripod comprising a pair of fixed legs adapted to extend generally forward and symmetrical to the direction of the line of motion of said ball and a pivoted leg extending rearwardly, said pivoted leg being movable to a fixed extreme position.

3. A golf tee comprising a ball supporting portion and a tripod for supporting said ball supporting portion, said tripod comprising a pair of fixed legs extending generally forward and symmetrical to the direction of the line of motion of said ball and a pivoted rear leg extending rearwardly in the line of motion of said ball, with the legs so shaped that a vertical center line from the ball normally intersects the ground substantially closer to the two front legs.

4. The tee of claim 3 wherein the front legs are curved outwardly with reference to a point Within the space enclosed by the tripod.

JAMES P. BUNDY. 

